A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994, 5*, 15).
It was a delight to watch last week “The Shawshank Redemption” which returned to my local cinema as a part of Everyman’s excellent “Throwback” series.
“The Shawshank Redemption” is one of those fascinating case studies in movie history: a film that, while critically appreciated, was deemed to be a commercial disaster on release. Back in 1994 when Frank Darabont’s prison drama was released, it earned a measly $16 million on its theatrical release against a reported production budget of $25 million. However, since then it has risen like a Phoenix from the ashes to reach ‘classic’ status: it has been sat for many years as IMDB’s highest rated movies of all time.
And watching it again, on the big screen (for only the second time since release!) I can easily see why it holds such appeal. It’s not an easy watch. But as an essay on the developing friendship and respect between two diverse human beings, it really can’t be beaten.
Plot:
Hot shot banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of a double homicide he swears wasn’t down to him. Incarcerated in Shawshank penitentiary, he faces all the perils that prison life holds. But he also forms a long and lasting friendship with Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding (Morgan Freeman), a fellow lifer.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong violence, sexual threat, language, suicide”.)
Talent:
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, Mark Rolston, James Whitmore, Jeffrey DeMunn, Larry Brandenburg, Neil Giuntoli, Brian Libby.
Directed by: Frank Darabont.
Written by: Frank Darabont. (From the book by Stephen King.)
Running Time: 2h 22m.
Summary:
Positives:
- The film really places you in Andy’s shoes: you can relate to him as a character.
- Robbins and Freeman are just perfectly cast and the clever script builds the friendship layer on layer until it is 100% believable.
- Some of the script’s darker moments are truly heart-breaking.
- The cinematography and directorial flair on show here are outstanding.
- A memorably uplifting finale.
Negatives:
- I have nothing: this is a virtually flawless classic.
Full Review of “The Shawshank Redemption”:
Sometimes it is really hard to be critical.
Being a self-appointed ‘film-critic’ (pompous? moi?), I find it a little bit disturbing when I review a film and can find nothing whatsoever to criticize in it. But here is a case in point. It is so brilliantly crafted from beginning to end, flawless in its technical delivery, stunning with its casting choices, that to try to pick any holes in it would take a very very long time with a very tiny rock-hammer!
First up, the script really puts you in the shoes of poor old Andy Dufresne. While the opening shots of the film lay out precisely why he was convicted, you as the viewer are in no doubt that Andy is indeed innocent. With Tim Robbin’s lost, impassive stare, you, as the detached observer, are made to feel the same burning sense of injustice that you felt about Dr Richard Kimble’s prosecution in “The Fugitive” (released in the previous year).
As Andy experiences all that prison life has to offer, you feel every humiliation, every beating and every rape that he suffers. (Well, maybe not exactly the latter, but woe-betide you if you ever go to a 4DX screening!).
Perfect casting.
None of this would have worked had it not been for the perfect casting of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in the lead roles.
Tim Robbins, although receiving an Oscar for his Supporting Role in “Mystic River” in 2004, has never seemed to ever quite break through into the Hollywood ‘A-lister’ category despite being a fabulous actor. Here he puts all of that talent fully on the screen and does an incredible job. It seems extraordinary that he didn’t get a Best Actor nomination unlike his co-star Morgan Freeman.
As ‘Red’, Freeman is so naturally brilliant. His sense of increasing despair on his face at every 5-year parole hearing is superbly done and his voiceover (not something I generally like) is like liquid honey and a joy to listen to. Red is imbued with such a degree of warmth that you cannot help but be uplifted by the film’s joyous finale: film where corruption is satisfyingly vanquished and redemption is found on a distant beach.
The supporting cast are also great value, particularly Bob Gunton as the corrupt warden Norton; Clancy Brown as Hadley, the vicious prison officer you love to hate; and James Whitmore as Brooks Hatien, who’s story is perhaps the most distressing of all.
Technical flourishes that impress.
As well as the story, by Stephen King, having real heart and soul, the film itself is delivered with a high degree of technical accomplishment. The drone shots (in an era before drones!) of the prison courtyard as the new prisoners arrive is artistically done.
One high-point though is the scenes of all of the prisoners listening as Andy blasts out Mozart to the entire prison. The camera soars up over the exercise yard speaker showing all of the inmates staring at it in rapt attention. (This dramatic clip is used as a snippet in Everyman’s preview for upcoming “Throwback” showings and you can understand why: it is truly iconic.) The other is the famous escape scene, with Andy, shit-covered but free, embracing the sky and the torrential rain as the camera soars upwards.
Full credit then to Frank Darabont, who as well as directing the piece also wrote the script. He was justly Oscar nominated for the writing but shamefully – given it was a Best Picture nominee – not nominated for Best Director. Given the classic nature of this film, which was his debut theatrical release, it’s surprising that he hasn’t made a bigger splash as an iconic director since then. He’s only released three other cinema releases: “The Green Mile” in 1999 – another prison-set, Stephen King adaptation of course, “The Majestic” in 2001, and (back to Stephen King again) “The Mist” in 2007. For younger audiences, his name may be recognised as the writer for creating the cult-TV series “The Walking Dead”.
The cinematography was by the legend Roger Deakins and it was justly nominated for an Academy Award (but losing out to “Legends of the Fall”).
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
Even though audiences shunned it in their droves, the film was nominated for an amazing 7 Academy Awards, finding itself between a rock and a Gump place and shamefully not winning a single one. The nominations were:
- Best Picture (losing to “Forrest Gump”)
- Best Actor in a Leading Role: Morgan Freeman (losing to Tom Hanks for “Forrest Gump”)
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Frank Darabont (losing to Eric Roth for “Forrest Gump”)
- Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins (losing to John Toll for “Legends of the Fall”)
- Best Sound: Robert J. Litt & Elliot Tyson (losing to Gregg Landaker, Steve Maslow, Bob Beemer & David Macmillan for “Speed”)
- Best Film Editing: Richard Francis-Bruce (losing to Arthur Schmidt for “Forrest Gump”)
- Best Music, Original Score: Thomas Newman (losing to Hans Zimmer for “The Lion King”)
Summary Thoughts on “The Shawshank Redemption”
It’s a curious fact that I have a copy of “The Shawshank Redemption” in my DVD collection that I don’t think I have ever played. It’s a film that I think about and then go “nah, too hard work”. But being forced into a big screen viewing again really made me re-appreciate what a terrific film this is. Two hours plus of rollercoaster emotions that satisfies my movie soul at a fundamental level.
Where to watch?
Trailer for “The Shawshank Redemption”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmzuHjWmXOc.
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